JP6906778B2 - Tablet cassette - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tablet cassette that forms a driven portion in a tablet feeder for automating dispensing performed in a hospital, a pharmacy, or the like. Specifically, the present invention includes a container portion for accommodating tablets and an alignment plate in the container portion. The present invention relates to a tablet cassette in which tablets are sequentially dropped from a discharge port of a container while aligning the tablets around the alignment plate when the alignment plate is driven by axial rotation.

The tablet feeder, which has been widely used in the past (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2), has a drive unit fixedly arranged on a drawer shelf of a tablet packaging machine for power supply and control, and simplification of tablet replenishment work. It consists of a tablet cassette that is removable from the drive unit for such reasons. A large number of tablets are randomly stored in the tablet cassette, and the drive unit is operated intermittently or continuously as needed from the tablet cassette. The tablets are sent out one by one. In such a tablet feeder, the tablets are sequentially discharged by narrowing down the tablets while moving the tablets from top to bottom.

Therefore, the tablet cassette in this tablet feeder has a container portion for accommodating a large number of replenished tablets by opening the lid in the internal space, and a shaft rotatably provided in the container portion for rotationally transmitting the drive of the drive unit. A part of the upper end side of the annular gap is provided so as to face the discharge port formed through the bottom plate of the container portion that defines the lower end portion of the annular gap between the container portion and the alignment plate and the alignment plate received by the shaft. It is equipped with a partition unit. Further, in order to divide the annular gap, which is the alignment point of the tablets, for each tablet, a large number of wing-shaped partition walls protruding into the annular gap are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the alignment plate at an equal pitch, and the adjacent partition walls are formed. The space is a compartment that holds the tablets that have fallen from the top of the sorting board one by one. This type of tablet feeder and tablet cassette is referred to as a single rotation type here because the shaft rotation part is only a single alignment plate.

On the other hand (see, for example, Patent Document 3), there is also a tablet feeder in which randomly stored tablets are arranged while being lifted and then dropped and discharged one by one. The tablet feeder includes an outer laterally placed annular rotating body, an inner inclined rotating body, and a drive unit for rotating the rotating bodies. Then, when the tablets are randomly stored in the upper surface open tablet storage space surrounded by the annular rotating body and the inclined rotating body and then the rotation drive is performed, the tablets are moved from the tablet storage space to the upper edge of the annular rotating body by the inclined rotating body. After being lifted up and arranged in a row by the lateral feed of the annular rotating body, they are dropped and discharged one by one. This type of tablet feeder has two shaft rotating bodies, one inside and one outside, so it is called a double rotation type here.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-247355 JP 2015-012893 JP-A-2018-108277 Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-028485 (Application) Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-207949 (Application) Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-207750 (application)

As for such conventional tablet feeders, single-rotating type tablets, which are removable cassettes and easy to refill tablets and have a relatively large tablet storage space, are often used, and are shared by drugs of various shapes and sizes. The double rotation type, which is relatively easy to do, has been used more and more.
However, the single rotation type and the double rotation type have incompatibility or poor compatibility between the drive unit and the cassette unit, respectively. That is, the tablet cassette of the single rotation type tablet feeder can be used by being attached to the drive unit of the double rotation type tablet feeder, or the cassette portion of the double rotation type tablet feeder (that is, the annular rotating body and the inclined rotating body). And the support mechanism) cannot be used by attaching it to the single rotation type drive unit. Even if it can be done, it is not easy because some kind of modification or rearrangement is unavoidable.

For this reason, it is important to determine in advance the mounting location of each type, whether the single-rotating type and double-rotating type tablet feeders are used separately or mixed and mounted. In order to switch to another type later, not only the tablet cassette but also the drive unit must be replaced, and since the drive unit is basically fixedly attached to the packaging machine body etc., it is double with the single rotation type. It was troublesome to change the type from the rotating type.
Therefore, it is a technical issue to improve a tablet cassette compatible with a single-rotation type tablet feeder that is removable and easy to replace so that it can be shared by various drugs.

The tablet cassette of the present invention (Solution 1) was devised to solve such a problem, and is housed in a container portion capable of accommodating a large number of tablets and a container portion in a state in which the axis can be rotated. The tablet is provided with an alignment plate that defines a plurality of compartments, and a discharge port is formed at the bottom of the container portion, and the tablet that has fallen into the compartment by the axial rotation of the alignment plate is described. In a tablet cassette that is sequentially dropped from a discharge port, the alignment plate has a circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism and a radial expansion / contraction mechanism that is externally attached to an insertion portion located in the internal space of the container portion of the rotation transmission shaft penetrating the bottom surface of the container portion. It is provided with an expansion / contraction mechanism, and the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism can expand / contract in the circumferential direction by interlocking a plurality of the compartments, and the radial expansion / contraction mechanism interlocks a plurality of the compartments to have a diameter. It is characterized in that it can be scaled in a direction.

Further, the tablet cassette of the present invention (solution 2) is a tablet cassette of the solution 1, wherein the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism is provided with one of the circumferential facing surfaces of the partition chamber. A second rocking member provided with the other side of the partition chamber facing in the circumferential direction, and a link mechanism connected to the first rocking member and the second rocking member. The rotation transmission shaft is inserted through a hole formed in the center of the first rocking member, the second rocking member, and the link mechanism, and the first rocking member and the second rocking member are It is rotatable with respect to the rotary transmission shaft, and the insertion portion of the rotary transmission shaft in the link mechanism is non-rotatable with respect to the rotary power transmission shaft, and the first swing member and the first swing member are non-rotatable. When any one of the two swinging members is rotated with respect to the rotary transmission shaft, the transmission of the link mechanism causes the other of the first swinging member and the second swinging member to rotate in the reverse direction. It is characterized by being like this.

Further, the tablet cassette of the present invention (solution 3) is a tablet cassette of the solutions 1 and 2, wherein the alignment board includes an umbrella portion arranged above the rotation transmission shaft. The umbrella portion is provided with an overhanging portion extending upward between adjacent ones of the compartments, and a notch is formed in a portion of the overhanging portion located above the compartments. It is characterized by that.

Further, the tablet cassette of the present invention (solution 4) is the tablet cassette of the solution 3, and the compartment is moved up and down at a position where the container portion is above the discharge port and lower than the overhanging portion. It is characterized by including a partitioning action portion for partitioning, and an elastic endless belt stretched above the partitioning action portion and higher than the overhanging portion.

Further, the tablet cassette of the present invention (Solution 5) is a tablet cassette of the above-mentioned solutions 3 and 4, among the members belonging to the radial expansion / contraction mechanism and moving in the radial direction when the compartment is expanded / contracted. It is characterized in that the portion located immediately below the notch is smoothly rounded.

In such a tablet cassette of the present invention (Solution 1), while following the tablet cassette compatible with the single rotation type tablet feeder that is removable and easy to replace, the insertion portion of the rotation transmission shaft in the alignment plate The part that is exteriorized and defines the compartment is changed from a conventional single member that can rotate the axis but does not deform to a combination of a deformable circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism and a radial expansion / contraction mechanism. By making it possible to expand or contract the compartment by interlocking multiple directional expansion / contraction mechanisms and radial expansion / contraction mechanisms, if the circumferential width and the radial width of any one of the compartments are adapted to the target tablet, In conjunction with this, all the remaining compartments are collectively expanded and contracted in the same manner, so that the shape of the compartments can be quickly adjusted by a straightforward operation for tablets with different shapes, so that it can be used for various drugs. Can be easily shared.

Further, in the tablet cassette of the present invention (solution 2), the first and second swinging members defining the circumferential width of the partition chamber move in the opposite direction at the center of the rotation transmission axis at the time of expansion and contraction due to the intervention of the link mechanism. Due to the rotation, undesired deformation such that the circumferential relative position with respect to other members such as the radial expansion / contraction mechanism and the umbrella portion mounted on the rotation transmission shaft member is unevenly displaced with the expansion / contraction of the compartment. Can be easily and surely prevented.

Further, in the tablet cassette of the present invention (Solution 3), since it is necessary to secure the range of motion of the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism, the tablet cassette expands / contracts between two adjacent compartments as the compartment expands / contracts. By locating the overhanging portion of the umbrella portion above the extra chamber where the extra chamber is formed, it is possible to easily prevent the occurrence of an undesired situation in which the tablet falls into the extra chamber.

Further, in the tablet cassette of the present invention (Solution 4), when the alignment plate is rotated around the axis, the tablets in the compartment are partitioned up and down at the discharge port by the partitioning action unit, and only the lower tablet is separated. In addition to the sequential discharge that falls from the discharge port, the tablets that are placed on the overhanging part of the umbrella part and are difficult to fall into the compartment are lightly flipped or hit by the endless belt above the overhanging part. Since the position and posture are changed by pressing while moving the contact part, it moves quickly to the top of the nearby compartment, so even if the overhanging part of the umbrella part is large, the tablet is undesired easily and accurately. It is possible to avoid a large amount of stagnation.

Further, in the tablet cassette of the present invention (solution 5), the member of the radial expansion / contraction mechanism that moves in the radial direction when the compartment is expanded / contracted is located immediately below the notch in the overhanging portion of the umbrella portion. Since the part is rounded and smooth, even when the compartment is narrowed, the tablet falls from the notch and enters the compartment without any delay as compared to when it is expanded.

Regarding Example 1 of the present invention, the structure of the tablet cassette is shown, (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tablet cassette with the upper lid removed, and (b) is an external perspective view of the alignment board. The structure of the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism is shown, (a) is a developed perspective view looking down, and (b) is a developed perspective view looking up. It is a plan view of the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism, in which (a) shows a reduced state and (b) shows an enlarged state. It is a developed perspective view which shows the structure of the radial expansion / contraction mechanism. Regarding the radial expansion / contraction mechanism, (a) is an external perspective view in a reduced diameter state, (b) is a plan view in a reduced diameter state, and (c) is an external perspective view in a expanded diameter state. A state in which the partition chamber is contracted in both the circumferential direction and the radial direction is shown, (a) is a plan view of the tablet cassette with the upper lid removed, and (b) is a front view of the alignment board. A state in which the partition chamber is slightly expanded in the circumferential direction is shown, (a) is a plan view of the tablet cassette with the upper lid removed, and (b) is a front view of the alignment board. A state in which the partition chamber is greatly expanded in the circumferential direction is shown, (a) is a plan view of the tablet cassette with the upper lid removed, and (b) is a front view of the alignment board. A state in which the partition chamber is slightly expanded in the radial direction is shown, (a) is a plan view of the tablet cassette with the upper lid removed, and (b) is a front view of the alignment board. A state in which the partition chamber is greatly expanded in the radial direction is shown, (a) is a plan view of the tablet cassette with the upper lid removed, and (b) is a front view of the alignment board.

A specific embodiment for carrying out such a tablet cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to Example 1 below.
The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 embodies all of the above-mentioned solutions 1 to 5 (claims 1 to 5 at the time of filing).

The specific configuration of Example 1 of the tablet cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tablet cassette 10 from which the upper lid has been removed, and FIG. 1B is an external perspective view of the alignment board 40.

2A and 2B are unfolded perspective views of the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism 6080, in which FIG. 2A shows a state of looking down from diagonally above and FIG. 2B shows a state of looking up from diagonally below.
3A and 3B are plan views of the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism 6080, in which FIG. 3A shows a state in which the circumferential width of the compartment 67 is reduced, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the circumferential width of the compartment 67 is expanded. ing.

FIG. 4 is a developed perspective view of the radial expansion / contraction mechanism 90 as viewed from diagonally above.
5A and 5B are external perspective views of the radial expansion / contraction mechanism 90, and FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the appearance of the mechanism 90 in a reduced diameter state when viewed alone, and FIG. 5 is an external appearance relating to the state of expanding the radial width of the compartment 67. It is a perspective view. Further, FIG. 3B is a plan view of the mechanism 90 in a reduced diameter state, and FIG. 3C is an external perspective view of the mechanism 90 in a diameter-expanded state when viewed alone, and the partition chamber 67. Looking at it, it is an external perspective view relating to a state in which the radial width is reduced.

The tablet cassette 10 (see FIG. 1) has a container portion 20 in which a conventional product (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2) is partially modified, and a compartment 20 while maintaining built-in compatibility with the container portion 20 and the conventional product. It is provided with an alignment board 40 that has been transformed from an alignment board of an integral body or a combination of small parts to an alignment board of a combination of a large number of parts in order to add a scaling function.
The container portion 20 is mainly composed of a box-shaped container body 21 mass-produced by injection molding of plastic or the like, and the internal space of the container body 21 becomes a tablet storage space 22 capable of randomly storing a large number of tablets. The tablet storage space 22 can be opened and closed with an upper lid (not shown) when replenishing tablets. A handle 23 for carrying is provided on the outside of the container body 21, and the lower part of the container body 21 is a detachable portion 24 for a drive unit (base) (not shown).

Further, in the container portion 20, a discharge port 28 is formed through the bottom 25 of the container body 21 (on the left side in FIG. 1A), and the tablet is discharged by rotating the axis of the alignment plate 40. When it is carried onto the 28, the tablet is dropped downward through the discharge port 28.
Further, the container portion 20 is also configured so that the partition unit 30 can be attached to and detached from the container main body 21. Then, when the partition holding portion 31 is attached to the container body 21 from the outside and the partition acting portion 32 is inserted into the tablet storage space 22 through the slit of the container body 21, the partition acting portion 32 comes above the discharge port 28. The tablets below it are dropped, but by preventing the tablets above from falling, the tablets are dropped one after another.

In addition, the container portion 20 is modified so that the belt holding portion 33 can also be attached to or detached from the outside of the container body 21.
The belt holding portion 33 holds, for example, a round string-shaped rubber endless belt 34 having elasticity in a stretched state. The partition unit 30 is attached to the container body 21, and the endless belt 34 is attached to the container body. When the endless belt 34 is inserted into the tablet storage space 22 through the slit of 21, the endless belt 34 comes above the discharge port 28 and the partitioning action portion 32.

The alignment board 40 (see FIG. 1) is housed in the container portion 20 in a axially rotatable state as in the conventional product (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2), and a plurality of compartments (see Patent Documents 1 and 2) at the bottom of the tablet storage space 22. In this example, four compartments 67) are defined, and the tablets that have fallen into the compartments 67 are transferred to the discharge port 28 together with the compartments 67 when the shaft rotates. ..
However, in order to allow the plurality of compartments 67 to be easily expanded and contracted together, an umbrella portion 50, a circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism 6080, and a radial expansion / contraction mechanism 90, which have not been provided in the past, are provided. These 50, 6080, and 90 are externally mounted on the rotary transmission shaft 41 so that they rotate with the rotation of the rotary transmission shaft 41.

The rotation transmission shaft 41 is inserted into the through hole 26 of the bottom portion 25 of the container portion 20 and penetrates the bottom portion 25 in a state in which the bottom portion 25 can rotate. The lower end of the rotary transmission shaft 41 projects outward from the bottom 25 so as to fit and mesh with the rotary drive shaft of a drive unit (not shown).
The upper portion of the rotation transmission shaft 41 is an interpolation portion located in the tablet storage space 22 inside the container body 21, and the circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism 6080 and the radial expansion / contraction mechanism 90 are provided in this interpolation portion. It is exteriorized and fixed with set screws 42 and the like, and an umbrella portion 50 is mounted above them.
By mounting the alignment plate 40 on the inner bottom of the container portion 20 in this way, in this example, there are four compartments 67 between the outer peripheral portion of the alignment plate 40 and the inner peripheral surface 27 of the container body 21. Is defined.

The circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism 6080 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is referred to in this example as the upper first swing member 60 in order to enable a plurality of four compartments 67 to be interlocked to expand / contract in the circumferential direction. In this example, the lower second swing member 70 and the link mechanism 80 between them are provided.
The first swing member 60 includes a disc-shaped base 64 having a hole 65 through which a hole 65 through which the rotation transmission shaft 41 can be inserted is formed in the center, and four members protruding radially from the base 64 at an equal angle. It is provided with a partition member 61 and two pins 66 projecting from the lower surface of the base portion 64, and the ward screen 62 on one side of the partition member 61 forms one of the circumferentially opposed surfaces of the partition chamber 67. ing. A plurality of grooves 63 for avoiding interference with the partitioning action portion 32 are formed at the outer end portion of the partition member 61 (three grooves are shown in FIG. 1, but only two grooves are shown in FIGS. 2 and later). ).

The second swing member 70 includes a disc-shaped base 74 having a hole 75 through which a hole 75 through which the rotation transmission shaft 41 can be inserted is formed in the center, and four members protruding radially from the base 74 at an equal angle. It is provided with a partition member 71 and two pins 76 projecting from the lower surface of the base portion 74, and the ward screen 72 on one side of the partition member 71 forms the other side of the circumferential facing surface of the partition chamber 67. ing. A plurality of grooves 73 for avoiding interference with the partitioning action portion 32 are also formed on the outer end portion of the partition member 71 (three grooves 73 are shown in FIG. 1, but only two grooves are shown in FIGS. 2 and later). ).
In both the first swing member 60 and the second swing member 70, the holes 65 and 75 are slightly larger than the rotary transmission shaft 41, and the engagement with the rotary transmission shaft 41 is loose. Therefore, the inserted rotary transmission shaft 41 It is possible to rotate around the axis.

The link mechanism 80 consists of a plate-shaped base 81, which is close to a rhombus and has six elongated holes 84 through which pins 66 and 76 can be inserted, and two upper portions, each of which is an elongated plate-like body. It includes a floating member 85 and two lower floating members 86. A hole 82 for inserting the rotation transmission shaft 41 is formed through the center of the base portion 81, but unlike the above-mentioned holes 65 and 75, the hole 82 is not a perfect circle, but the engaging portion 83 is at the center. It overhangs in a string shape.
The engaging portion 83 is made to face a plane formed by scraping off a part of the peripheral surface of the rotary transmission shaft 41, and the rotary transmission shaft 41 is inserted into the hole 82 so that the rotary transmission shaft 41 is formed on the base 81. While being inserted into the hole 82, the scraped surface of the rotary transmission shaft 41 and the engaging portion 83 of the base 81 are in a face-to-face interference state. Therefore, the base 81 of the link mechanism 80 cannot rotate around the inserted rotation transmission shaft 41.

Further, the upper floating member 85 has small holes formed through at both ends, and the lower floating member 86 has small holes formed through at one end and a small connecting pin 87 is erected at the other end. .. Then, the connecting pin 87 and the above-mentioned pins 66 and 76 are inserted into any one of the elongated holes 84 of the base 81 and the small holes of the upper floating member 85 and the lower floating member 86, respectively. (Refer to the two-dot chain lines A, B, C, D, E, and F in Fig. 2 for more specific engagement relationships, and the pins on the line are inserted into the long holes and small holes for each two-dot chain line. Will be). Then (see FIG. 3), the section screen 62 of the section member 61 of the first swing member 60 and the section screen 72 of the section member 71 of the second swing member 70 face each other, and the circumferential width of the section chamber 67 is defined. Will be done.

Moreover, by assembling by such pin insertion, both the first swing member 60 and the second swing member 70 are connected to the link mechanism 80, and the partition members 61 and 71 according to any one of the plurality of partition chambers 67. When any one of them is rotated around the rotation transmission shaft 41 by finger operation or the like, the other compartment members 61 rotate in the same direction by the same amount, and at the same time, the compartment members 61 and 71 are transmitted by transmission via the link mechanism 80. One of the other is rotated in the opposite direction by the same amount around the axis, and the circumferential width of all the partition chambers 67 is expanded or contracted together while being fixed at the central position. Similarly, when both of the partition members 61 and 71 sandwiching the partition chamber 67 are individually picked by the left and right hands to increase or decrease the facing distance of the partition members 61 and 71, the total is also the same. The circumferential width of all the compartments 67 is expanded and contracted together with the central position fixed.

The radial expansion / contraction mechanism 90 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 (a)) links a plurality of compartments 67 to expand / contract by the same amount in the radial direction. A rotating member 91 arranged at the top for easy rotation operation, a plurality of advancing / retreating members 92 arranged in a circular / radial manner under the rotating member 91, a driven rotating member 95 arranged below the rotating member 91, and a driven rotating member 95 arranged at the bottom. It includes an arranged guide member 98. The number of advancing / retreating members 92 is the same as that of the compartment 67, and the arrangement of the advancing / retreating members 92 also corresponds to the compartment 67.

Each of the advancing / retreating members 92 is composed of a base through which an elongated hole 94b is formed and a hanging portion that protrudes slightly toward the outer diameter side and immediately extends downward, and the outer diameter side of the hanging portion is on the ward screen 93. The upper end portion of the ward screen 93 is a curved surface 94 that is smoothly rolled so that the tablet does not get caught.
When the rotation transmission shaft 41 of the alignment board 40 is inserted into the through hole 26 of the bottom 25 of the container portion 20, the ward screen 93 faces the inner peripheral surface 27 of the outer container portion 20 and faces the inner peripheral surface 27 of the outer container portion 20 to form the partition chamber 67. It defines the inner surface in the radial direction.

In the driven rotating member 95, a tubular portion 96 having a relatively large diameter is formed in the center, and the same number, that is, four pins 97 are erected around the tubular portion 96 in the same circular and radial arrangement as the advancing / retreating member 92. The advancing / retreating member 92 is placed on it, and the operating rotating member 91 is placed on it, and the pin 97 penetrates the elongated hole 94b of the advancing / retreating member 92 and the hole 91b of the operating rotating member 91, and the driven rotating member 95. When the central tubular portion 96 is assembled so as to penetrate the central gathering hole 92a of the plurality of advancing / retreating members 92 and the hole 91a of the operating rotating member 91, those members 91, 92, 95 are at the center of the driven rotating member 95. By inserting the rotation transmission shaft 41 into the hole 96a, the rotation transmission shaft 41 can be collectively rotated about the axis with respect to the inserted rotation transmission shaft 41.

The guide member 98 is made of a flat plate-like body, and has a hole 98a formed through it in the center and a plurality of guide paths 98b and 98c notched in the peripheral portion. The hole 98a includes an engaging portion similar to the engaging portion 83 of the hole 82 of the base 81 of the link mechanism 80 described above.
Therefore, when the rotation transmission shaft 41 is inserted into the hole 98a and the guide member 98 is attached to the rotation transmission shaft 41, the guide member 98 cannot rotate about the axis with respect to the inserted rotation transmission shaft 41.

Although not shown, protrusions that can be loosely fitted into the guide path 98b and the guide path 98c are formed on the lower surface of the base portion of the advancing / retreating member 92. Therefore, in the radial expansion / contraction mechanism 90 mounted on the rotation transmission shaft 41, when the operation rotating member 91 is rotated around the axis, the driven rotating member 95 also rotates around the axis, and the pin 97 rotates accordingly. The advancing / retreating member 92 that moves and transmits the motion to the elongated hole 94b also tries to rotate, but the advancing / retreating member 92 moves only in the radial direction due to the guide paths 98b and 98c of the guide member 98 that does not rotate around the axis. Since each advancing / retreating member 92 moves in the radial direction (see FIGS. 5 (b) and 5 (c)), the ward screen 93 advances / retreats toward the facing inner peripheral surface 27. ing.

The umbrella portion 50 (see FIG. 1) includes a central portion 51 having a mountain-shaped upper surface close to the crown portion of a conventional alignment board, and an overhanging portion 52 protruding in the radial direction from the hem portion thereof. Is. The overhanging portion 52 is generally plate-shaped, but the portion closer to the central portion 51 is slightly raised to enhance the stirring function of the tablet and prevent retention, and the upper surface is inclined. A notch 53 is formed in a portion of the overhanging portion 52 located above the partition chamber 67, and the notch 53 also serves as an upper end portion of the compartment 67. On the other hand, the portion of the overhanging portion 52 having no notch 53 extends close to the inner peripheral surface 27 of the container main body 21 and extends upward between adjacent compartments 67, and is divided into the compartment 67 and the compartment 67. It prevents the tablet from undesirably falling into the chamber 67.

Further, regarding the relationship between the notch 53 of the umbrella portion 50 and the advancing / retreating member 92 for expanding / contracting the compartment 67, the tablet can be smoothly dropped from the notch 53 into the compartment 67 (see FIGS. 1B and 5). As described above, the curved surface 94 of the advancing / retreating member 92 is located immediately below the notch 53.
Further (see FIG. 1A), regarding the relationship between the overhanging portion 52 and the partitioning acting portion 32, the partitioning acting portion 32 is arranged below the overhanging portion 52, and the partition chamber 67 is located above the overhanging portion 52. It is designed to be divided into upper and lower parts at a low place. Regarding the relationship between the overhanging portion 52 and the endless belt 34, the endless belt 34 is stretched above the overhanging portion 52.

The usage mode and operation of the tablet cassette 10 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

6 to 10 are all plan views of the tablet cassette 10 in which the upper lid is removed in FIG. 10A, the alignment plate 40 is shown by a solid line, and the container portion 20 is shown by a thin alternate long and short dash line. (B) of each figure is a front view of the alignment board 40.
Further, among them, FIG. 6 shows a state in which the compartment 67 is contracted in both the circumferential direction and the radial direction, and FIG. 7 shows a state in which the compartment 67 is slightly expanded in the circumferential direction. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the partition chamber 67 is greatly expanded in the circumferential direction, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the partition chamber 67 is slightly expanded in the radial direction, and FIG. 10 shows a state in which the partition chamber 67 is expanded in the radial direction. It shows a greatly expanded state.

Newly developed tablets that have not yet been used so often that they are manufactured and handled as a single-rotation type dedicated cassette, but only a small number are used so that they can be handled by hand-spreading work, etc. Many of the non-sized tablets are relatively large in size. In addition, since it is rare to use a plurality of such large tablets in a single dose, it is unlikely that a large number of such large tablets are continuously discharged from the cassette in a short period of time. Therefore, even if there is some variation in the size of the compartments of the alignment board, and even if the number of compartments is small, the necessary alignment function and discharge function can be exhibited. The tablet cassette 10 provided with 67 is suitable for automatic ejection of the large tablet 5.

The tablet cassette 10 needs to match the size of the compartment 67 to the size of the tablet 5 prior to the use of the tablet 5, and the size of the compartment 67 is manually adjusted. The adjustment work may be performed on the alignment board 40 in a state of being attached to the container portion 20, or may be performed on the alignment board 40 in a state of being removed from the container portion 20. Further, the tablet 5 may be imitated in the partition chamber 67 with the tablet 5 stored in any of the compartments 67, and the size of the tablet 5 is measured and the compartment is based on the measured value. 67 may be varied. Regardless of which mode is used, in the size adjustment of the compartment 67, the tightening with the set screw 42 or the like is slightly loosened before the adjustment, and the tightening with the set screw 42 or the like is restored after the adjustment.

Specifically (see FIGS. 6 to 10), after the size can be adjusted, one of the partition members 61 and the partition member 71 facing each other with the partition chamber 67 in between are separated and brought close to each other. By expanding / contracting the circumferential width of all four compartments 67 to the width required for the sequential passage of the tablet 5, and rotating the operation rotating member 91 with respect to the rotation transmission shaft 41. The advancing / retreating member 92 is advanced / retracted in the outer radial direction to approach / separate from the inner peripheral surface 27 of the container body 21 so that the radial widths of all four compartments 67 are the widths required for the sequential passage of the tablets 5. Reduce / enlarge.

Since the size of all the compartments 67 fits the tablet 5 only by performing such a simple operation, the tightening with the set screw 42 or the like is restored, and the adjustment work is completed.
Then, the tablet cassette 10 can be used for random storage and sequential discharge of the desired tablets 5. Therefore, the tablet cassette 10 is replenished with an appropriate amount of the tablets 5, and the tablet cassette mounted on the tablet packing machine or the like is used for the time being. A tablet cassette that does not need to be used is selected, the tablet cassette is removed from the drive unit, and the tablet cassette 10 is attached to the drive unit.

In the tablet cassette 10, when the tablet 5 is a small one that can be handled (see FIG. 6), the partition members 61 and 71 approach the advancing / retreating member 92 by narrowing the facing interval and under the notch 53 of the umbrella portion 50. Appears in. Further, the advancing / retreating member 92 also approaches the inner peripheral surface 27 of the container body 21 to narrow the facing interval and appears under the notch 53 of the umbrella portion 50. Since most of the portion appearing under the notch 53 is a smooth curved surface 94, the tablet 5 that has fallen from the central portion 51 of the umbrella portion 50 and the like is quickly placed in the compartment 67 without staying there. Fall to.

Further, when the width of the tablet 5 is slightly large (see FIG. 7), the partition members 61 and 71 are separated by the corresponding adjustment, so that the partition members 61 and 71 are slightly separated from the advancing / retreating member 92 and the umbrella portion 50 is partially separated. Although it is hidden under the overhanging portion 52, since the partitioning members 61 and 71 move in the opposite directions by the same amount, the circumferential position of the partitioning chamber 67 is the central position with respect to the notch 53 of the overhanging portion 52 of the umbrella portion 50. Since the position in the circumferential direction of the advancing / retreating member 92 in the compartment 67 is also maintained at the center position, even if the gap between the compartment members 61 and 71 and the advancing / retreating member 92 widens, the tablet 5 does not fall into the gap. The desired situation is avoided and the tablet 5 falls into the compartment 67.

When the width of the tablet 5 is further large (see FIG. 8), the partition members 61 and 71 are greatly separated by the corresponding adjustment, so that most or all of the partition members 61 and 71 are under the overhanging portion 52 of the umbrella portion 50. However, the circumferential width of the upper end of the compartment 67 is regulated by the notch 53 of the overhanging portion 52 of the umbrella portion 50 to be less than or equal to the upper limit of the appropriate range, and the circumferential width of the compartment 67 and the notch 53. Since the central positional relationship and the circumferential central positional relationship between the compartment 67 and the advancing / retreating member 92 are maintained, the tablet 5 also falls into the compartment 67 in this case as well.

Further, when the tablet 5 is slightly larger in the thickness direction, the advancing / retreating member 92 retracts toward the rotation transmission shaft 41 by the corresponding adjustment, and is separated from the inner peripheral surface 27 of the container body 21 and near or partially of the curved surface 94. Is hidden under the central portion 51 of the umbrella portion 50 (see FIG. 9), and if the tablet 5 is considerably large in the thickness direction, most of the advancing / retreating members 92 are under the central portion 51 of the umbrella portion 50 by the corresponding adjustment. Since it is hidden in (see FIG. 10), the detailed explanation to be repeated is omitted, but the tablet 5 still falls only in the compartment 67.

In this tablet cassette 10 (see FIGS. 1, 6 to 10), the circumferential width of the overhanging portion 52 is wider than the circumferential width of the notch 53. Therefore, from this point of view, the tablet cassette having a conventional structure has a conventional structure. However, since the endless belt 34 is stretched above the overhanging portion 52 (see FIG. 10), the tablet 5 is more likely to stay on the overhanging portion 52. Since the tablet 5 that has been carried on the tablet 5 abuts on the endless belt 34 and receives a reaction force before going around, it is held down at the endless belt 34 to change its posture or to the central portion 51 of the umbrella portion 50. It is pushed up. Then, if the compartment 67 that has caught up is empty, most of them fall into the compartment 67 and enter, and if the compartment 67 is not empty, even if it falls into the compartment 67, it is above the partition action unit 32. After passing above the discharge port 28, it falls to the bottom of the compartment 67.
Therefore, the sequential discharge of the tablet 5 is accurately carried out without a large delay.

[others]
In the above embodiment, the number of compartments 67 is four, but the number of compartments 67 is not limited to four, and may be more or less.
In the above embodiment, a thin plate-like body is shown as the partition action portion 32, but the partition action portion 32 is not limited to the plate-like body, and the partition holding portion 31 is complicated, but the endless belt 34 It is also possible to adopt an elastic endless belt such as the above for the partitioning action unit 32, and in that case, even if the size adjustment of the partition chamber 67 is a little rough, the upper and lower tablets can be accurately partitioned. The size adjustment of is easy. The conditions for forming the grooves 63 and 73 for avoiding interference between the partitioning portion 32 and the partition members 61 and 71 are also relaxed.

Although not mentioned in the above description in order to avoid complication, the tablet cassette 10 is also provided with a small number, for example, two downward contact members attached to the rotation transmission shaft 41 or the like (FIG. 1 (b). ), A small number, for example, two thrust members are also attached to the upper surface of the bottom 25 of the container portion 20 (not shown), and intermittently with the axial rotation of the alignment plate 40, that is, The alignment board 40 may be pushed up slightly each time the contact member gets over the thrust member (see, for example, Patent Documents 4 to 6). By doing so, even if the tablets are in a lump, the lump is quickly released and the individual tablets are likely to roll down into the compartment 67.

The tablet cassette of the present invention can be used in a device such as a drug packing machine in which a large number of drive units are incorporated in a storage unit or the like, or in a device such as a tablet dividing device in which only one unit is installed. It is possible. It is also possible to replace one tablet cassette with several drive units and use it, or to replace several tablet cassettes with one drive unit and use it.
A typical example of a tablet handled by the tablet cassette of the present invention is a large, vertically long round tubular capsule, but the tablets that can be handled are not limited to this, and other dosage forms such as spindle-shaped and disk-shaped and other sizes are used. Many tablets can be handled.

5 ... tablets,
10 ... Tablet cassette,
20 ... Container part,
21 ... Container body, 22 ... Tablet storage space, 23 ... Handle, 24 ... Detachable part,
25 ... bottom, 26 ... through hole, 27 ... inner peripheral surface (alignment board insertion space), 28 ... discharge port,
30 ... Partition unit,
31 ... Partition holding part, 32 ... Partitioning action part, 33 ... Belt holding part, 34 ... Endless belt,
40 ... Alignment board,
41 ... Rotation transmission shaft (alignment board leg), 42 ... Set screw,
50 ... Umbrella part (alignment board head),
51 ... Central part, 52 ... Overhanging part, 53 ... Notch (upper part of compartment),
6080 ... Circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism (alignment board body),
60 ... First rocking member,
61 ... partition member, 62 ... ward screen, 63 ... groove, 64 ... base, 65 ... hole, 66 ... pin,
67 ... Division room,
70 ... Second rocking member,
71 ... partition member, 72 ... ward screen, 73 ... groove, 74 ... base, 75 ... hole, 76 ... pin,
80 ... Link mechanism,
81 ... base, 82 ... hole, 83 ... engaging part, 84 ... long hole,
85 ... upper floating member, 86 ... lower floating member, 87 ... connecting pin,
90 ... Radial expansion / contraction mechanism,
91 ... Rotating member for operation, 91a ... Hole, 91b ... Hole,
92 ... advance / retreat member, 92a ... hole, 93 ... ward screen, 94 ... curved surface, 94b ... long hole,
95 ... Driven rotating member, 96 ... Cylinder, 96a ... Hole, 97 ... Pin,
98 ... guide member, 98a ... hole, 98b ... guide path, 98c ... guide path

Claims (5)

It is provided with a container portion capable of accommodating a large number of tablets and an alignment plate which is housed in the container portion in a rotatable state and defines a plurality of compartments, and a discharge port is formed at the bottom of the container portion. Then, in the tablet cassette in which the tablets that have fallen into the compartment by the axial rotation of the alignment plate are sequentially dropped from the discharge port.
The alignment board includes a circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism and a radial expansion / contraction mechanism that are externally attached to an insertion portion located in the internal space of the container portion of the rotation transmission shaft penetrating the bottom surface of the container portion.
The circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism includes a first rocking member having one of the circumferential facing surfaces of the compartment, a second rocking member having the other of the circumferential facing surfaces of the compartment, and the first rocking member. It is provided with a swing member and a link mechanism connected to the second swing member, and a hole formed in the center of the first swing member, the second swing member, and the link mechanism. The rotation transmission shaft is inserted into the link mechanism, and the first swing member and the second swing member are rotatable with respect to the rotation transmission shaft, and the rotation transmission shaft of the link mechanism is inserted. The portion is non-rotatable with respect to the rotation transmission shaft, and when either one of the first swing member and the second swing member is rotated with respect to the rotation transmission shaft, the link mechanism When either one of the first rocking member and the second rocking member rotates in the reverse direction due to the transmission, a plurality of the compartments can be interlocked and expanded or contracted in the circumferential direction.
The radial expansion / contraction mechanism is arranged at the bottom, a rotating member that can be rotated, a plurality of advancing / retreating members arranged in a circular / radial manner under the rotating member, and a driven rotating member arranged under the rotating member. A tablet cassette comprising a guide member and capable of expanding and contracting in the radial direction by interlocking a plurality of the compartments. It is provided with a container portion capable of accommodating a large number of tablets and an alignment plate which is housed in the container portion in a rotatable state and defines a plurality of compartments, and a discharge port is formed at the bottom of the container portion. Then, in the tablet cassette in which the tablets that have fallen into the compartment by the axial rotation of the alignment plate are sequentially dropped from the discharge port.
The alignment board includes a circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism and a radial expansion / contraction mechanism that are externally attached to an insertion portion located in the internal space of the container portion of the rotation transmission shaft penetrating the bottom surface of the container portion.
The circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism includes a first swing member having one of the circumferential facing surfaces of the compartment, a second swing member having the other of the circumferential facing surfaces of the compartment, and the first swing member. A link mechanism connected to the swing member and the second swing member is provided, and either one of the first swing member and the second swing member is attached to the rotation transmission shaft. When rotated, one of the first swinging member and the second swinging member rotates in the reverse direction due to the transmission of the link mechanism, so that a plurality of the compartments can be interlocked and expanded or contracted in the circumferential direction. And
The radial expansion / contraction mechanism is arranged at the bottom, a rotating member that can be rotated, a plurality of advancing / retreating members arranged in a circular / radial manner under the rotating member, and a driven rotating member arranged under the rotating member. have provided a guiding member state, and are not capable of scaling the compartment into a plurality interlocked allowed to radially,
The alignment board is provided with an umbrella portion arranged above the rotation transmission shaft, and the umbrella portion is provided with an overhanging portion extending upward between adjacent ones in the compartment. , you characterized in that notches are formed in a portion located above the compartment of the overhang portions tablets agent cassette. It is provided with a container portion capable of accommodating a large number of tablets and an alignment plate which is housed in the container portion in a rotatable state and defines a plurality of compartments, and a discharge port is formed at the bottom of the container portion. Then, in the tablet cassette in which the tablets that have fallen into the compartment by the axial rotation of the alignment plate are sequentially dropped from the discharge port.
The alignment board includes a circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism and a radial expansion / contraction mechanism that are externally attached to an insertion portion located in the internal space of the container portion of the rotation transmission shaft penetrating the bottom surface of the container portion.
The circumferential expansion / contraction mechanism includes a first rocking member having one of the circumferential facing surfaces of the compartment, a second rocking member having the other of the circumferential facing surfaces of the compartment, and the first rocking member. It is provided with a swing member and a link mechanism connected to the second swing member, and a hole formed in the center of the first swing member, the second swing member, and the link mechanism. The rotation transmission shaft is inserted into the link mechanism, and the first swing member and the second swing member are rotatable with respect to the rotation transmission shaft, and the rotation transmission shaft of the link mechanism is inserted. The portion is non-rotatable with respect to the rotation transmission shaft, and when either one of the first swing member and the second swing member is rotated with respect to the rotation transmission shaft, the link mechanism When either one of the first rocking member and the second rocking member rotates in the reverse direction due to the transmission, a plurality of the compartments can be interlocked and expanded or contracted in the circumferential direction.
The radial expansion / contraction mechanism is arranged at the bottom, a rotating member that can be rotated, a plurality of advancing / retreating members arranged in a circular / radial manner under the rotating member, and a driven rotating member arranged under the rotating member. have provided a guiding member state, and are not capable of scaling the compartment into a plurality interlocked allowed to radially,
The alignment board is provided with an umbrella portion arranged above the rotation transmission shaft, and the umbrella portion is provided with an overhanging portion extending upward between adjacent ones in the compartment. , you characterized in that notches are formed in a portion located above the compartment of the overhang portions tablets agent cassette. The container portion is stretched above the discharge port and lower than the overhanging portion to partition the partition chamber up and down, and above the partitioning acting portion and higher than the overhanging portion. The tablet cassette according to claim 2 or 3 , further comprising an provided elastic endless belt. Claims 2 to 2, wherein a portion of a member belonging to the radial expansion / contraction mechanism and moving in the radial direction when the partition chamber is expanded / contracted, which is located immediately below the notch, is smoothly rounded. The tablet cassette according to any one of 4.

Images